Re: “Sewage plan gets public airing in Esquimalt,” Feb. 19.
The Capital Regional District is once again using a heavy-handed approach to force through its flawed sewage plan and save face. Otherwise, why would the CRD approach the provincial government in the midst of a public hearing?
The Seaterra Program provides only basic sewage treatment, while threatening our community with inappropriate use of prime waterfront, unlimited cost risks for the taxpayers and negligible environmental benefits.
The CRD has recklessly escalated costs with their fast-forward approach, limiting project design choices, refusing independent project assessment and jumping into land procurement, hiring and contracts before solidifying project plans and approval processes. Such poor project management does little to instil confidence in Seaterra’s ability to control costs.
More frightening still, a large, centralized sewage plant lacks the flexibility of a more modular design.
If Seaterra is allowed to start building at McLoughlin Point, the project quickly becomes too big to fail no matter what the costs.
This plant is a bad investment and does not provide value for money spent. I willingly admit that I am angry about this plant and the CRD process around it. It has left me feeling disenfranchised.
A bulky, flawed sewage project at the harbour entrance could become a very visible, long-lasting, public embarrassment for the community, the region and the province.
Norma Brown
Esquimalt